Solid waste incinerator and method

ABSTRACT

A self-contained solid waste incineration system using a rotating cylinder having interior projections in its refractory lining to promote tumbling, such cylinder having a length to I.D. ratio of from about 1:1 to about 2:1; the system incorporating a time controlled plunger feeder utilizing a hinged door forming a part of the hopper to preclude spillage.

United States Patent Inventor Edwin M. Polsak South Euclid, Ohio Appl. No 800,510 Filed Feb. 19, 1969 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 Assignee Bartlett-Snow a Division of Bangor Punta Operations, lnc. Bangor, Maine a corporation of New York SOLID WASTE INCINERATOR AND METHOD 28 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 110/14 Int. Cl F23g 5/06 Field of Search 1 10/8, 14, 15, 8A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,098,458 7/1963 110/14 3,306,237 2/1967 110/14 3,310,009 3/1967 1 10/8 3,408,967 11/1968 110/7 3,357,382 12/1967 110/14 Primary Examinerl(enneth W. Sprague Attorney-Oberlin, Maky, Donnelly and Renner ABSTRACT: A self-contained solid waste incineration system using a rotating cylinder having interior projections in its refractory lining to promote tumbling, such cylinder having a length to 1D. ratio of from about 1:1 to about 2: 1; the system incorporating a time controlled plunger feeder utilizing a hinged door forming a part of the hopper to preclude spillage.

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SOLID WASTE INCINERATOR AND METHOD This invention relates generally as indicated to a waste incinerator and method and more particularly to such incinerator and method which utilizes a rotating cylinder having an automatic feeder.

\ Incineration of solid waste can efficiently be obtained by rotary waste disposal kilns, but these are generally large custom engineered installations not suitable for a variety of smaller volume applications. There is accordingly a need for a selfcontained incineration system which embodies the efficient waste tumbling principle found in rotary kilns. A waste incinerator which incorporates not only the automatic feeder but also the rotary cylinder as well as the necessary pollution control equipment for complete, smoke-free combustion has a variety of applications in industrial plants, chemical plants, plastic producers, lumber yards, smaller municipalities, commercial buildings, or a variety of locations in larger plants or municipalities.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a compact simplified self-contained .incineration system which embodies a waste tumbling principle.

Another principal object is the provision of such unitized system utilizing a rotary cylinder to obtain such tumbling action, the latter being obtained by the refractory pattern therein.

A further principal object is the provision of such incineration system utilizing a rotary cylinder having an internal length to diameter ratio of from about 1:1 to about 2:1 thus ensuring complete incineration by continually exposing new waste surfaces to the air and combustion gases.

A further important object is the provision of such incineration system incorporating a plunger feeder having a telescoping trough section which advances into the cylinder on a preprogrammed time cycle.

A further object is the provision of such system incorporating a feeder which includes a hinged hopper section bridging the inlet to the cylinder as the plunger advances and folding into an upright position upon plunger withdrawal to preclude premature spilling.

,Yet another object is the provision of such self-contained incineration system which includes pollution control equipment obtaining complete, smoke-free combustion.

Still another object is the provision of such self-contained solid waste incineration system which will 'operate in a completely automatic manner.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an incineration system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partially broken away of the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a verticalsection on a somewhat enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the opening to the rotary cylinder;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section again on a somewhat enlarged scale through the feed end of the incinerator illustrating the action of the feed plunger and the hinged hopper wall; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section through the rotary cylinder illustrating the projections which may be formed on the interior of the refractory material to promote tumbling.

Referring now to the annexed drawings and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the basic components of the system are a charging hopper 10, a rotary cylinder 11, a gas tempering duct 12, a wet scrubber l3 and an exhaust fan 14.

The components of the system are each mounted on a fabricated rectangular frame 16 which may in turn be mound mounted on any suitable arrangement of concrete or like piers as indicated at 17 and 18. The elevation of the unit thus provided permits a bin or container 20 to be moved beneath the discharge end of the cylinder for removal of ashes. The frame 16 includes a plurality of transverse structural members as indicated at 22 both to rigidify the frame and to assist in the support of the various components.

The frame at the feed end includes an upstanding frame indicated at 23 which includes a lower offset portion supporting table 24 on which the hopper 10 is mounted. The higher end portion of the frame 23 encloses the control cabinet 26 and includes a rectangular top frame 27, on the transverse members of which is supported fluid operated piston-cylinder assembly 28. The rod 29 of such assembly is connected to plunger plate 30 which is provided with stiffeners indicated at 31. Such stif fcners extend from a central boss 32 supporting guide rod 33 which extends through linear bearings 34 and 35 mounted on the transverse subframe members 36 and 37, respectively, of the frame 23. The double acting piston-cylinder assembly 28 functions to move the plunger plate 30 forward and backward between the hopper sidewalls 39 and 40. In its retracted position the plunger serves as the hopper backwall.

The hopper front wall 42 is hinged as indicated at 43 to the hopper bottom wall 44 to swing through the are 45 to the horizontal phantom line position indicated at 46 in FIG. 4. The wall 42 is resiliently held in the upright position by a hinge spring or other suitable mechanism such as a pneumatic spring and when the plunger 30 is indexed forwardly to the position shown in phantom lines at 47 in FIG. 4 the wall 42 will be swung down to the horizontal position bridging the inlet to the rotary cylinder 11.

Adjacent the wall 42 in its upright position is a refractory wall 50 supported by L-shape frame 51 seen more clearly in FIG. 3. Such wall includes a door opening 52 in which is mounted refractory lined door 53 for horizontal movement between an open and closed position. Such door is mounted for movement in the frame 50 on rollers indicated at 54 which may be mounted in the cooperating grooves in the door and frame seen at 55. The door is opened and closed by the pistoncylinder assembly 56, the cylinder of which is mounted on bracket 57 connected to the frame, the rod being connected to the door through bracket 58.

The refractory lined frame 50 is spaced slightly from the rotary cylinder 11 as indicated at 60 to provide a predetermined opening for a calculated volume of air to enter the interior 6! of such cylinder.

The cylinder is mounted on flanged pairs of trunnion rolls 64 and 65, one of each pair being driven by motor 66 through reducer 67. The flanged trunnion rolls run against riding rings 68 and 69. The cylinder 11 is mounted at a slight downhill angle to the horizontal from the feed end to the discharge end and the flanges of the rolls preclude axial movement of the cylinder. The trunnion rolls are mounted in antifriction pillow blocks on the transverse frame members and those on the drive side of the cylinder are interconnected by the shaft seen at 70. In the illustrated embodiment, rotation of the cylinder 11 may be obtained by a frictional drive between the trunnion rollers 64 and 65 on the drive side although it will be appreciated that a girt sprocket and chain drive or a spur pinion and girt gear may be provided.

The discharge end of the rotary cylinder 11 is provided with a refractory lined exhaust hood 72 which has an exhaust gas port 73, an ash discharge opening 74, an exhaust gas temperature sensing device 75, and a pilot'burner 76. The exhaust gas port 73 leads to tempering duct 12 which includes water sprays 78 and 79 which function to reduce the exhaust gas temperature.

The bottom of the ash discharge 74 is provided with a trickle valve 80 leading to the bin 20. When the bin is full, it may be removed, emptied and replaced.

The tempering duct 12 leads to wet scrubber 13. In such wet scrubber 13 any air entrained solids are washed out and discharged through the bottom 81 into removable settling tank 82. The cleaned and cooled exhaust gases pass through duct 83 from the top of the wet scrubber 13 into the exhaust fan 14 and then out the stack 84. The exhaust fan is mounted on shaft 85 driven by motor 86 through belt transmission 87.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, it will be seen that the rotary cylinder 11 is lined with a refractory material indicated at 90. Projections on the interior of the refractory material, as seen at 91, promote tumbling of the waste product for greater exposure and more rapid and complete combustion. Such projections 91 may be formed by the refractory brick projecting in a pattern designed to lift and drop the same through the interior 61 for efficient exposure and combustion. Alternatively, metal flights may be provided for such purpose. In any event, the cylinder may create a 75 tumble center rotating waste material at onehalf inch per second.

The temperature sensing device 75 located in the exhaust gas port controls the pilot burner 76. To ensure complete, smoke-free combustion, the exhaust gas temperature should ordinarily be above approximately l400 F. When the exhaust temperature drops to near such figure, due to excessive moisture in waste material or insufficient waste material, the temperature sensing device sends a signal through the control panel 26 for the pilot burner to start. When the exhaust gas temperature has risen to a preset value, the temperature sensing device 75 will signal the pilot burner to cut off.

It can now be seen that there is provided a self-contained incineration system which utilizes a rotary cylinder having an interior pattern promoting tumbling action, the internal length to diameter ratio of the cylinder being approximately between i and 2:1. This assures complete incineration by continuing exposing new waste surfaces to the air and combustion gases.

The unique plunger feeder moves into and withdraws from the interior of the incinerator on a preprogrammed time cycle, again controlled through the control panel 26. The plunger 30 pushes the solid wastes directly into the interior 61 of the rotary cylinder without spillage since the folding hopper plate 42 acts as a bridge from the hopper to the interior of the cylinder. The feed mechanism is maintained reasonably cool since it is withdrawn from the hot zone after each feeding. The hopper door automatically folds into an upright position to form the forward wall of the feed hopper preventing the feed charge from prematurely spilling into the incinerator when the sliding door is open. In such upright position, the refractory lined door is closed.

The capacity of the unit may vary from about 30 pounds to about 2 tons per hour depending on the size of the unit. Also, the unit may, for example, be placed at any required location in an industrial plant avoiding extensive waste handling and haulage.

Accordingly, there is provided a unitized automatic incineration system for smokeless, pollution-free incineration.

Other modes of applying the principles of the invention may be employed employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I claim:

1. An incinerator comprising a frame, a rotary cylinder mounted on said frame for rotation, automatic feed means for moving waste material into said cylinder at one end thereof, a burner in said cylinder at the other end thereof, an air inlet at said one end, a gas exhaust port and ash discharge port in said cylinder at said other end, an exhaust fan, and a gas exhaust scrubber between said gas exhaust port and said fan, said feed means, scrubber and fan each being mounted on said frame to form a unitized self-contained incinerator.

2. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 including a waste material charging hopper at said one end of said cylinder, said automatic feed means moving such waste material from said hopper into said cylinder.

3. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 including a tempering duct between said gas exhaust port and said scrubber operative to cool such exhaust gases.

4. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 including a temperature sensing device in said exhaust port operative to control the operation of said burner.

5. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotary cylinder is provided with a refractory lining, and a pattern of projections on the interior of said lining to promote a tumbling action of the waste material within said cylinder.

6. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said automatic feed means includes a plunger reciprocably mounted operative to push waste material into said cylinder.

7. An incinerator comprising a frame, a rotary cylinder mounted on said frame for rotation, automatic feed means for moving waste material into said cylinder, a burner in said cylinder, a gas exhaust port and ash discharge port in said cylinder, an exhaust fan, and a gas exhaust scrubber between said gas exhaust port and said fan, said feed means, scrubber and fan each being mounted on said frame to form a unitized self-contained incinerator, a waste material charging hopper at one end of said cylinder, a movable door between said charging hopper and said cylinder, the wall of said charging hopper adjacent said door being pivotally mounted at the lower edge thereof to swing through the door opening into said cylinder to form a bridge from said hopper into said cylinder.

8. An incinerator as set forth in claim I wherein said automatic feed means comprises a reciprocating plunger, and a waste material charging hopper at one end of said cylinder, said plunger forming one wall of said charging hopper.

9. An incinerator comprising a frame, a rotary cylinder mounted on said frame for rotation, automatic feed means for moving waste material into said cylinder, a burner in said cylinder, a gas exhaust port and ash discharge port in said cylinder, an exhaust fan, a gas exhaust scrubber between said gas exhaust port and said fan, said feed means, scrubber and fan each being mounted on said frame to form a unitized selfcontained incinerator, said automatic feed means comprising a reciprocating plunger, and a waste material charging hopper at one end of said cylinder, said plunger forming one wall of said charging hopper, the opposite wall of said hopper being pivotally mounted at its lower edge to swing to a horizontal position to bridge the entrance to said cylinder and to permit the plunger to move thereover.

10. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 including drive means operative to rotate said cylinder.

11. An incinerator comprising a frame, a rotary cylinder mounted on said frame for rotation, automatic feed means for moving waste material into said cylinder, a burner in said cylinder, a gas exhaust port and ash discharge port in said cylinder, and exhaust fan, a, gas exhaust scrubber between said gas exhaust port and said fan, said feed means, scrubber and fan each being mounted being mounted on said frame to form a unitized self-contained incinerator, a refractory lined door at one end of said cylinder, and means operative to open and close said door.

12. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotary cylinder has an internal length to internal diameter ratio of from about izl to about 2:1.

13. A self-contained incinerator comprising a rotating cylinder, a feed hopper at one end of said cylinder, the wall of said hopper away from said cylinder being a reciprocating plunger operative to move material from said hopper into said cylinder, a door between said hopper and cylinder, means to open said door to permit said plunger to move therethrough, and means automatically to move the hopper wall adjacent said cylinder to and from the path of movement of said plunger.

14. A self-contained incinerator comprising a rotating cylinder, a feed hopper-at one end of said cylinder, the wall of said hopper away from said cylinder being a reciprocating plunger operative to move material from said hopper into said cylinder, and means automatically to move the hopper wall adjacent said cylinder to and from the path of movement of said plunger, said hopper wall adjacent said cylinder being pivotally mounted at its lower edge'for swinging movement into said cylinder to form a bridge said hopper and the interior of said cylinder.

15. An incinerator as set forth in claim 14 including a refractory lined door between said hopper and cylinder, and means to open said door to permit said hopper wallsto move therethrough.

16. An incinerator as set forth in claim 15 including a long stroke piston-cylinder assembly connected to said wall of said hopper away from said cylinder to obtain such reciprocating motion.

17L An incinerator as set forth in claim 15 including a piston-cylinder assembly operative to open and close said door, said door being mounted for reciprocating movement.

18. An incinerator as set forth in claim 13 including a refractory lining in said cylinder, said-lining including interior projections to promote tumbling action of the material.

19. An incinerator as set forth in claim 13 including a refractory lined exhaust hood at the opposite end of said cylinder, a burner in said exhaust hood, a gas exhaust port in said exhaust hood, and an ash discharge in said exhaust hood.

20. An incinerator as set forth in claim 19 including a temperature sensing device in said exhaust port operative to control said pilot burner.

21. An incinerator as set forth in claim 19 including an exhaust fan, and an exhaust scrubber between said exhaust port and said exhaust fan.

22. An incinerator as set forth in claim 21 including a ternpering duct between said exhaust port and said scrubber operative to. cool the exhaust gases passing therethrough.

23. An incinerator as set forth in claim 22 including a rectangular frame, said feed hopper, cylinder. scrubber and fan each being mounted on said frame.

24. A process for the incineration of waste materials comprising the steps of placing a charge of waste material in one end of a slightly inclined rotating cylinder, applying heat to such material in such cylinder to obtain complete combustion thereof, drawing inlet air from such one end of said cylinder, discharging exhaust gases and ashes from the opposite end of such cylinder, and regulating the supply of heat to obtain such combustion in response to the temperature of such exhaust gases.

25. A process as set forth in claim 24 wherein the placement of a charge of waste material into such cylinder is obtained by a reciprocating plunger.

26. A process as set forth in claim 24 including passing such exhaust gases .through a tempering duct to lower the temperature thereof and then through a wet scrubber to remove gas entrained solids.

'27. A process for the incineration of waste materials comprising the steps of placing a charge of waste material in one end of a slightly inclined rotating cylinder, applying heat to such material'in such cylinder to obtain complete combustion thereof, discharging exhaust gases and ashes from the opposite end of such cylinder, and regulating the supply of heat to obtain such combustion in response to the temperature of such exhaust gases; the placement of the charge within the cylinder being obtained by pushing such charge from a hopper, and forming a bridge between such hopper and the interior of such cylinder over which such charge is pushed.

28. A process as set forth in claim 24 wherein the combustion of such material is obtained by a burner in the end of such cylinder opposite the end in which the charge of waste material is placed. 

1. An incinerator comprising a frame, a rotary cylinder mounted on said frame for rotation, automatic feed means for moving waste material into said cylinder at one end thereof, a burner in said cylinder at the other end thereof, an air inlet at said one end, a gas exhaust port and ash discharge port in said cylinder at said other end, an exhaust fan, and a gas exhaust scrubber between said gas exhaust port and said fan, said feed means, scrubber and fan each being mounted on said frame to form a unitized self-contained incinerator.
 2. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 including a waste material charging hopper at said one end of said cylinder, said automatic feed means moving such waste material from said hopper into said cylinder.
 3. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 including a tempering duct between said gas exhaust port and said scrubber operative to cool such exhaust gases.
 4. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 including a temperature sensing device in said exhaust port operative to control the operation of said burner.
 5. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotary cylinder is provided with a refractory lining, and a pattern of projections on the interior of said lining to promote a tumbling action of the waste material within said cylinder.
 6. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said automatic feed means includes a plunger reciprocably mounted operative to push waste material into said cylinder.
 7. An incinerator comprising a frame, a rotary cylinder mounted on said frame for rotation, automatic feed means for moving waste material into said cylinder, a burner in said cylinder, a gas exhaust port and ash discharge port in said cylinder, an exhaust fan, and a gas exhaust scrubber between said gas exhaust port and said fan, said feed means, scrubber and fan each being mounted on said frame to form a unitized self-contained incinerator, a waste material charging hopper at one end of said cylinder, a movable door between said charging hopper and said cylinder, the wall of said charging hopper adjacent said door being pivotally mounted at the lower edge thereof to swing through the door opening into said cylinder to form a bridge from said hopper into said cylinder.
 8. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said automatic feed means comprises a reciprocating plunger, and a waste material charging hopper at one end of said cylinder, said plunger forming one wall of said charging hopper.
 9. An incinerator comprising a frame, a rotary cylinder mounted on said frame for rotation, automatic feed means for moving waste material into said cylinder, a burner in said cylinder, a gas exhaust port and ash discharge port in said cylinder, an exhaust fan, a gas exhaust scrubber between said gas exhaust port and said fan, said feed means, scrubber and fan each being mounted on said frame to form a unitized self-contained incinerator, said automatic feed means comprising a reciprocating plunger, and a waste material charging hopper at one end of said cylinder, said plunger forming one wall of said charging hopper, the opposite wall of said hopper being pivotally mounted at its lower edge to swing to a horizontal position to bridge the entrance to said cylinder and to permit the plunger to move thereover.
 10. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 including drive means operative to rotate said cylindeR.
 11. An incinerator comprising a frame, a rotary cylinder mounted on said frame for rotation, automatic feed means for moving waste material into said cylinder, a burner in said cylinder, a gas exhaust port and ash discharge port in said cylinder, and exhaust fan, a gas exhaust scrubber between said gas exhaust port and said fan, said feed means, scrubber and fan each being mounted being mounted on said frame to form a unitized self-contained incinerator, a refractory lined door at one end of said cylinder, and means operative to open and close said door.
 12. An incinerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotary cylinder has an internal length to internal diameter ratio of from about 1:1 to about 2:1.
 13. A self-contained incinerator comprising a rotating cylinder, a feed hopper at one end of said cylinder, the wall of said hopper away from said cylinder being a reciprocating plunger operative to move material from said hopper into said cylinder, a door between said hopper and cylinder, means to open said door to permit said plunger to move therethrough, and means automatically to move the hopper wall adjacent said cylinder to and from the path of movement of said plunger.
 14. A self-contained incinerator comprising a rotating cylinder, a feed hopper at one end of said cylinder, the wall of said hopper away from said cylinder being a reciprocating plunger operative to move material from said hopper into said cylinder, and means automatically to move the hopper wall adjacent said cylinder to and from the path of movement of said plunger, said hopper wall adjacent said cylinder being pivotally mounted at its lower edge for swinging movement into said cylinder to form a bridge said hopper and the interior of said cylinder.
 15. An incinerator as set forth in claim 14 including a refractory lined door between said hopper and cylinder, and means to open said door to permit said hopper walls to move therethrough.
 16. An incinerator as set forth in claim 15 including a long stroke piston-cylinder assembly connected to said wall of said hopper away from said cylinder to obtain such reciprocating motion.
 17. An incinerator as set forth in claim 15 including a piston-cylinder assembly operative to open and close said door, said door being mounted for reciprocating movement.
 18. An incinerator as set forth in claim 13 including a refractory lining in said cylinder, said lining including interior projections to promote tumbling action of the material.
 19. An incinerator as set forth in claim 13 including a refractory lined exhaust hood at the opposite end of said cylinder, a burner in said exhaust hood, a gas exhaust port in said exhaust hood, and an ash discharge in said exhaust hood.
 20. An incinerator as set forth in claim 19 including a temperature sensing device in said exhaust port operative to control said pilot burner.
 21. An incinerator as set forth in claim 19 including an exhaust fan, and an exhaust scrubber between said exhaust port and said exhaust fan.
 22. An incinerator as set forth in claim 21 including a tempering duct between said exhaust port and said scrubber operative to cool the exhaust gases passing therethrough.
 23. An incinerator as set forth in claim 22 including a rectangular frame, said feed hopper, cylinder, scrubber and fan each being mounted on said frame.
 24. A process for the incineration of waste materials comprising the steps of placing a charge of waste material in one end of a slightly inclined rotating cylinder, applying heat to such material in such cylinder to obtain complete combustion thereof, drawing inlet air from such one end of said cylinder, discharging exhaust gases and ashes from the opposite end of such cylinder, and regulating the supply of heat to obtain such combustion in response to the temperature of such exhaust gases.
 25. A process as set forth in claim 24 wherein the placement of a charge of waste material into such cylinder is obtained by a reciprocating Plunger.
 26. A process as set forth in claim 24 including passing such exhaust gases through a tempering duct to lower the temperature thereof and then through a wet scrubber to remove gas entrained solids.
 27. A process for the incineration of waste materials comprising the steps of placing a charge of waste material in one end of a slightly inclined rotating cylinder, applying heat to such material in such cylinder to obtain complete combustion thereof, discharging exhaust gases and ashes from the opposite end of such cylinder, and regulating the supply of heat to obtain such combustion in response to the temperature of such exhaust gases; the placement of the charge within the cylinder being obtained by pushing such charge from a hopper, and forming a bridge between such hopper and the interior of such cylinder over which such charge is pushed.
 28. A process as set forth in claim 24 wherein the combustion of such material is obtained by a burner in the end of such cylinder opposite the end in which the charge of waste material is placed. 